Insect excluding means for sliding windows



Sept. 3, 19.46. F F, GQLKOWsKl v 2,406,761

INSECT EXCLUDING MEANSFOR SLI-DING' WINDOWS INVENTOR. Ffm/ F G04 Ko ws/f Sept. 3, 1946. F. F. GoLKowsKl V ISECTEXCLUDING MEANS 'FOR SLIDING WINDOWS Filed Nov. 3, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 3, 1946 'UNI-TfnoSTATES PATENT oFF-ics e nvsno'r EXcLUniNGMEANs Fon sIKJmNG WiNDoWs Floyd F. Golkowski, Cleveland, Ohiov Application November s, 1944 semina. 561,682

(o1. reca-290') 4- Claims'.

The principal objectY of" this invention ls to provide. a simple and practicablen protective screen mechanismforv use in standard window sash and' casing assemblies whereby selectively to apply protective. s'c'e'ening across Vthe opening' presentedwhen either sash is moved toopen position or 'to Ieave the' screening in concealed and protecting position 'when the sash members Vare so moved;

Various mechanisms of the type as outlined above 'are known but the 'arrangements previously proposed' have been so complicated as to prohibit their practical application to standaro; sliding type windows. The present arrangement does notrequire any .alterationV of the window sash and casing` assembly beyond drilling ofa'few holes in the sash and; as a further feature; the arrangement enablesY application of standard storm sash to the' windows without requiring material alteration of the casi-ng' or sash, even though part of the space normallyl occupied by the storm sash is used to accommodate a portion of4 the apparatus hereof. The screen instaliation does not have to be removed when the storml sashb is applied- The above indicates furtherobjects. Y

' Additionalobjects ofJ the'inventioninclude the provision of an improved casingand roller'mechanism' for supporting' Vand protecting` flexible woven screen of metal, plastic orthe-- like and 2, the views being taken as indicated by upper and lower portions of theline 3 4 on Fig. 1.;

Fig. 5 is .ay detail rear elevation of one end of theY screen support and guide substantially as used for both the upper and lower sash, screen mounting;

Fig. 6 isV aL vertical sectional assembly viewro'f adjacent' portions' ofl the upper and lower' Window sash and sealing means 'in accordance herewith for the vgap which' occurs when the-sash are moved relative to eachotherto open the window;

present a reinforced free edge of the screen in a Y denite` and. desirable position` for engagement by screen pick-up mechanism ofrespecti-ve sash members; an improved arrangement Vfor gui-ding the free edge of' suchscreen; improved means for scrubbingorL cleaning; at least one face of the screen when the-'screen is unrolled to span thewindow openings; an improved weatherprooiing: arrangement for theA various Window members with which the mechanisms hereof are associated, and an improved screensupporting roller mounting including quickly attachableand detachable means for supporting the roller.

Other objects and features of the invention will: become apparentfrom the following description with particular reference tothey accompanyy Fig. 'T is a fragmentarycentraI sectional and elevationalview of the. screenroller; and:H

AFig. 8 is a detail cross sectional view of one portion of a screen guide as indicated by the line 8 3 on Fig; V1 andvrevolved clockwise 90"'1 The'window casing I'is of' the usuat type hav'- ing side casing portions Zand 3', a lintel portion 4 and sill portion `5'. The casing as usual provides inner parallel' channel guides 'I and 8" for the upper and lower sashx I0 andi-2, respectively. At the top of` the' casingthe linternas the usual storm sash seat4 shoulder I3Y formed partly by a rib f4; and the sides, of the casing are similarly shouldered to receive the storm sash'. Inthe present construction a casing t5 for the upper screen and'roller'assembly is supportedV adjacent theupperportionof the shoulder i3, M as shown by Figs; 2-and3'.

The lower rolle-rJ and screen assembly is mounted on the sill 5` in acasing I6, Said casing I-B-is disposed inwardly from. the plane of theshoulder i3, I-4 andv substantially i-n the plane of the upper sash groove or guide' 1. Both casings l5 and I3 aresubstantially alike i-n -function, being dissimilar mainly respect to weather sealing4v and mounting adaptation details;-

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3f and-7, the casing- |15# hasv substantially identical end Walls l1' andL i8, theA upper; lower and forward edge portions ot which join top, front and bottom. wallssvfor-the casing, indicated respectively at'` I9, 20- andv 2l. The innerls-ide of the casing so formed is substantially open exceptA for aninwardly and upwardlyV extending ange assembly Z2. formed preferablyv as= an extension of the. bottom wall: Zit. The casing tS-i's. preferably attachedrinposition adjacent. the shoulder L35, M1 by brackets 23 which. may be securedxagainst the outer face of the lin-telV portion off the window. casing...

' It will be clear fromrFig. l that. the vertical proportions ofthe Vcasing are such that., the usual storm sash 25 is readily accommodated beneath the casing I5 The upper bar 25a.A off the storm sash (see Fig. 3) seats against a sealing strip 26 adjacent the inwardly extending flange 22 of the casing as by a strip 21 attached to said ange on its inner side. The strip 21 has an additional function which will be described later. The top surface of the upper bar 25a of the storm sash lies against the lower wall 2l so as to establish, in cooperation with the sealing strip 26, a relatively tight joint.

IThe storm sash25 provided as usual with protective panes 28, partially shown, is ordinarily supplied several inches longer than it needs to be in order to t the 4windows for which built. An extra wide margin is usually provided at the bottom and for use with the present arrangement it is usually only necessaryto Icut off as much from the bottom of the stormV sash as will make the upper and lower bars 25a -and 2519 of the storm sash approximately of the same height. In some cases, of course, small portions of the top bar 25a may have to be cut off in order to accommodate the casing I5.

The storm sash is secured to the window by suitable means such as hinges shown at 29, Fig. 1, andan appropriate catch device or hook (not shown) at the side of the window opposite the hinges.

Referring further to Figs. 3 and '1, the strip of screen wire or plastic strands is secured at one edge as by solder, welding or an attaching strip at 3l to the cylindrical body 32 of a tube which forms the roller. The roller has at one end substantially the conventional. spring and attachment head 33, 34, respectively, a non-circular tip r of the head being adapted to enter av complementary opening in one end wall of the casing I5 when Vthe spring has been suiciently wound up to hold the screen strip wrapped about the roller. As shown the inner end of the spring 3'3 is anchored as at 34 on a cross pin 35 of the roller body. At the opposite end oi the roller is a spring biased plunger 36 slidably mounted in la'suitable end wall 31 of the roller, the plunger having atip or projection 38 bearing in a central opening of the end Wall 31. A coil spring 39 reacts atone end against a shoulder 40 of the plunger and at the opposite end against a cross pin or rivet 4l in the roller body. The arrangement is such that after the non-circular end member 35 has been inserted into thecomplementary opening in one wall (I1, for example) the plunger carrying end of the roller is then moved into proper position with the axis of the roller in line with the bearing opening of the other wall ,(e.` g. I8) thus causing, rst, retraction of the .plunger and then release of the same to allow theV projection 38 to enter the bearing opening. vIn, other words, the projection is simply cammed back axially of the roller by the end wall I8 of the casing until the projection 38 is brought into alignment with the bearing opening and then the-spring snaps the projection into said opening.

TheA free end of the screen strip 3l) is mounted 0n.a retaining and reinforcing bar 45 shown in Fig. 3 as a doubled strip of sheet metal embracing .the end margin of the screen strip and secured .-to it as by solder, rivets or other means not shown. The doubled metal member is adequately Vstiffto impart substantial rigidity to the edge of the screenL strip. Each end of the bar car- ,ries upwardly and downwardly projecting leg :portions 46 and 41 (one pair shown, see Fig. 5) leach pair constituting a T-head 48 for the bar. Theleg members 46 `and 41 `may be formed sep- 45 operate as guide members for the supported screen edge in suitably formed channels at each side of the window frame. The channels of each pair (one pair for each sash) are identical except that one is right hand and the other left hand; hence only one of the four channels requires description.

As shown by Figs. 3 and 8, each guide channel comprises a pair of cooperating parallel guide elements 58 and 5I preferably made as separate Z-bar shaped strips of sheet metal having ange portions 52 and 53 which lie against each other -and one of which, as shown, is extended forwardly at right angles to the plane of the guide channel to form a flange 54 for attachment to the adjacent window frame. The flange 54, as shown, is attached as by screws 55 to the adjacent vertical window casing rib 14a which cooperates with the upper rib I4 of the casing in forming Ythe outer guide for the upper sash I0. Thus a channel trackway is formed at each side of the upper sash and extendingsubstantially from the top of the frame 'downwardly nearly to the lower limit of the upper sash. The channels are made long enough so that the T-head'guides 48 will not be moved out of theV channels when the upper sash is fully lowered and carries the screen with it to span the opening above the upper sash.

integral therewith. The T-heads 48 of the bar As a weather stop and rattle dampening cushion at the front marginal face of each sash I and I2, strips 56 of sealing material such as felt are supported (see Fig. 8) behind each of the' guide channel assemblies 5U, 5I etc. The strips 56 may be held in position as by adhesive against the flange portions 52 of the channel forming elements so as to bear resiliently against the side margins of the sash.

The normal position for the free edge of the screen strip 30 is as shown by Fig. 3 closely behind the casing I5 and near the top of the window frame opening provided within the ribs I4, I4a. The upper legs 46 of the T-heads hold the edge bar of the screen in the initial withdrawn position by abutment with the rib I4 of the window casing. For enabling engagement of such free edge of the screen, the screen edge reinforcing bar 45 has iixed thereto, as by solder, a pair 'of depending sheet metaltongues 58, the short free portions of which below the bar 45 are substantially flat and apertured at 1|) and the lower ends 59 of which are gradually curved outwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 3 to serve as cani-` ming abutments for a pair of screen pick-up and releasing plungers 6I] carried on the sash bar 51. The plungers engage respective apertures 1|] and are identical, hence only one will be described.

Each of the plungers 60 preferably comprises a cylindrical body 6I pressed into a smooth horizontal bore 62 in the sash bar 51 or otherwise secured tightly in said bore. The body has a centrally apertured end wall 63' through which a free end or pin portion 64 of the plunger slides. The opposite end of the body may be closed by a ring 66 the inner surface of which cooperates with the opening of the wall 63 to form adequate supporting bearing for the plunger. Reacting at opposite ends against the ring 66 and a shoulder 61 on the plunger is a coil spring 68. The spring thus urges the plunger in a directionto the left as shown by Fig. 3 until the shoulder 61 engages the wall 63er a releasing head or knob 69,01' the plunger engages the ring 66 as a stop. The abutment for the plunger howsoever provided holds the pin 64 in proper position so as to be cammed SEQ tierigijit bythe parmense effin-1e associated -ba'r- 45ofthe screen. Y "I'hus, when -`the upper'fsash is Grnpved-`tobring 'thepin {Glinto alignment-with theopenng 10 of the associated'tongue 58'-- the pindroplsintofthe-opening and thereafter, if the upper-sash isI loweredA vthe 'screen will Lbe unrolled `Iand;causedtofrspan' the lopening above vthe upper sash: y t jin order to'lower ithe uppersas'h withoutmovement ,ofthe screen,.the, operator pulls both knobs 69'ito-release'ftheplur'rgers1i!)v from the tongues 58 and then may lower the sash by using the knobs as handles. The knobs, in case of the upper sash, project only a slight distance inwardly of the window in order that should the upper rail of the upper sash be moved downwardly or the upper rail of the lower sash moved upwardly far enough to cause the two rails to overlap, the knobs will clear the upper sash bar of the lower sash. On the lower sash there is no danger of such confiict of parts and the knobs can be of any size.

The arrangement for supporting the free screen edge adjacent the lower screen roller casing I6 is exactly the same as described above with reference to the upper screen support construction and hence will not be described in detail. The similar parts of both upper and lower assemblies are similarly numbered. The downwardly extending legs 41 of the T-heads 48 of the lower screen bar 45 engage the window sill to hold the upstanding tongues 58 of the lower screen in proper position so that the apertures thereof receive the projecting pick-up and releasing plunger pins 64 when the lower sash is fully lowered.

It should be noted that the amplitude of guiding surface between the T-heads of the bar 45 and the associated guiding channels is suiicient so that should the operator release only one of the plungers, the other plunger will cause the screen to be lowered without danger of distorting or damaging the guide, T-heads or screen. Such release of only one plunger would only happen accidently.

The guide flanges for the lower screen 30 are indicated at 50a and 5Ia but the construction generally is exactly the same as in the case of the guide flanges 50 and 5I of the upper frame construction.

In order to guide and simultaneously clean the face of the upper screen as the screen is drawn from the roll, the flange 22 and strip 21 of casing I5 support between them a scrubber strip 15 which may be formed conveniently as a doubled strip of plain or sponge rubber or felt, the overlapping margins of the scrubber strip being clamped. between a ange portion of the strip 21 and the ange 22. A similar scrubber strip 16 is supported by an inner wall portion 11 of the casing I6 as in a folded metal strip 18 embracing the overlapped portions of the scrubber strip and secured in suitable fashion to the'wall portion 11. Except for the difference in shape the casing I6 is essentially similar to the casing I5 described above having fully enclosed end and horizontally extending walls to protect the roll of screen. The wall portion 11 of the casing I6 lies suiciently above the top surface of the sill 5 to enable the free edge 0f the lower screen strip 30 to pass around the scrubber and into secured engagement with the supporting and reinforcing bar 45 for the lower screen strip. The outer wall of the casing I 6 is modied to the extent of providing a horizontal attaching liange 80 projecting forwardly from the wall 19 of the casing in position torba ffastened'` directly 5to' Ithe v-top -suraceL of-'ftne window-sill'a'sby screwslj The ange 80-and adjacent rportierir -offthe wallI 1`9f are upstruck at suitablefin'tervals at utc-'provide drainage lchannels-(for water that may"` accumulate-onthef sill inwardly from l`the casing 'I6 fand lthus enter 'the casing.I The lowerV walls of-Ythe-drainbhannels are formed by the-topf-suriace o'f-the sill 5`L- It will be -lapparent 5f-rorn-`the construction shown-that, assumingf1the--storm sash is opened for rremoved; the! screenifpickeup Iand-- releasing Lpl-urigers :can :bel readily-fop 'ted it) fmove'said plunger's toi'screen rele'asiri'gpesitins#either from the inside or outside of the window. The openings 10 in the tongues 58 for the plunger pins 64 are large enough so that the pins can be pushed back by human lingers-i. e. without requiring a tool of any kind.

An important insect excluding feature of the construction as shown particularly by Fig. 6 is a strip 85 of eXible sealing material such as rubber mounted on the lower surface of the lower sash bar 86 of the upper sash Ill. be secured for horizontal adjustment toward and away from the pane 81 of the lower sash as by a series of screws, one of which is indicated at 88, passing through the strip 85 and a reinforcing or back-up metal strip 89 and into the wood of the said lower sash bar 86. The strips 85 and 89 may both be slotted horizontally and in a direction perpendicular to the pane 81 to be engaged by the inner edge of the sealing strip so as to enable adjustment to fit different designs of windows. The lower sash bar of the upper sash as shown in Fig. 6 has been moved downwardly from its normal position, thus leaving a gap between the sash bars 86 and 9U through which insects could normally pass. When the lower sash is fully lowered and the upper sash fully raised, the sash bar 86 would be in horizontal alignment with the upper sash bar 99 of the lower sash as usual and thereupon the strip 85 would lie against the outer lower surface of the bar as a full weatherprooiing means between the adjacent portions of the two sashes when closed.

I claim:

1. The improvement in a sliding window sash and spring-roller-supported screen assembly of the type in which the sash carries manipulatable means for selective engagement and disengagement with a free edge portion of the screen, comprising the employment of a spring actuated latch plunger member mounted in a substantially horizontally extending bore in the sash frame for movement transversely to the principal plane of the sash frame, and having an end portion projecting from said plane, a cooperating latching member on such free edge portion of the screen, one of said members having a cam surface oblique to said plane for causing retraction of the plunger member as part of the latching operation, and means for guiding and supporting said free edge portion of the screen, when disengaged by the latch plunger, the latching member of the screen then being engaged by the plunger incident to the sash being slid to its normal closed position in the window.

2. The improvement in a sliding window sash, sash frame and spring-roller-supported screen assembly of the type in which the sash carries manipulatable means for selective engagement and disengagement with a free edge portion of the screen, comprising the employment of a spring actuated latching means mounted in a por- The strip may tion of the sash frame near one horizontal edge of the frame for movement transversely to the principal plane of the sash frame,l a screen reinforcing bar on such free edge portion of the screen, said bar incorporating a cooperating latch means, and one of said latch means having a cam surface oblique to said plane for causing retraction of the first mentioned latching means as part of the latching operation. Y

3. The arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the latch means on the bar comprises vertically extending legs on the bar free from the screen for engagement with the sash frame.

4f The arrangement according to claim 2 wherein abutment means are provided onthe 

